Gabrielle is a female given name of French origin. It is derived from the masculine name Gabriel, which means "God is my strength" in Hebrew. The name Gabrielle is often associated with angels and has been popular among Christians throughout history.
The use of Gabrielle as a female name is believed to have started in France during the Middle Ages. It was initially used as a diminutive form of Gabriel, but eventually evolved into an independent feminine name. Over time, Gabrielle gained popularity in other European countries as well, particularly in Italy and Spain.
Some notable figures throughout history have borne the name Gabrielle. One example is Gabrielle d'Estrées, a French courtesan who was a favorite mistress of King Henry IV. Another famous Gabrielle is Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel, the iconic French fashion designer known for popularizing the little black dress and the Chanel suit.
Today, Gabrielle remains a popular choice among parents looking to name their daughters. It has a classic yet timeless sound, making it appealing across different generations. While its popularity has waxed and waned over time, Gabrielle continues to be recognized as a beautiful and meaningful name with a rich history behind it.
Based on the statistics provided, we can see that the name Gabrielle has seen a varied degree of popularity over the years in the United States.
The trend starts with a low number of births with the name Gabrielle in 1986, with only 5 recorded. The following year, however, saw an increase to 8 births. This upward trend continued through 1993, reaching a peak of 12 births that year. It's interesting to note that 1997 was the only year during this period where more than 10 babies were named Gabrielle.
After 1997, the popularity of the name began to decline. There were still several years with a reasonable number of Gabrielle births (between 6 and 12), but the trend was generally downward until it reached another low point in 2003 with only 7 births recorded.
The year 2004 saw a slight rebound, with 9 babies named Gabrielle. This was followed by years with varied numbers of Gabrielle births, ranging from 5 to 8. The most recent data point we have is from the year 2009, which shows another dip in popularity with only 6 recorded births.
In total, there were 160 babies named Gabrielle born in the United States between 1986 and 2009 according to these statistics. While this name has seen fluctuations in popularity over time, it remains a unique and distinctive choice for parents looking for something different for their daughters.